End closure for a disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag



Jan. 14, 1969 o. F. DOWNEY 3,421,298

END CLOSURE FOR A DISPOSABLE VACUUM CLEANER DUST BAG Filed March 28,1967 INVENTOR. Dm/ID FlDow/vsv HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An end closure plate consisting of apair of discs one of which has a plurality of flaps formed therein bydie cutting and the other disc has an aperture aligned with the flapswhen the discs are united in juxtaposition. Each of the flaps is held inclosed position by a rivet-like member of elastic material one end ofwhich is connected with a flap and the other end is connected with theopposite juxtaposed disc. In use the flaps are opened by the suctiontube of a vacuum cleaner.

Background of the invention Disposable vacuum cleaner dust bags areknown from US. Patents 2,596,806, 2,596,807 and 2,596,808. Essentiallythe known dust collectors consist of a filter bag for collecting dustand dirt and an end closure in the form of a cardboard plate attached toan open end of the filter bag. The end closure serves to hold the bag inits operative position in a vacuum cleaner and is provided with one ormore latex rubber sheets which close to prevent spillage of dust anddirt when the bag is removed from the machine. While the bags accordingto the foregoing patents are completely satisfactory in operation theyare expensive due to the use of relatively large latex rubber sheets anda time consuming method of manufacturing the end closure.

Summary of the invention The relatively large size latex rubbermembranes or sheets according to the prior art must consist of an eX-pensive rubber formulation because of the high localized stresses themembranes are subjected to in use. In addition these latex rubbermembranes must be held in place by gluing which requires time for theglue to set before the end closure can be considered completed andremoved from the manufacturing machine.

In accordance with this invention the flaps of a disposable dust bag endclosure are closed by means of rivetlike members of elastic material,which may be pretensioned, and are anchored in place in a positivemanner without the requirement for time to allow a glue or adhesive toset. Further, the elastic rivets according to the invention do notengage the inlet pipe of the vacuum cleaner so that rivets cannot bedamaged, severed or torn by the inlet pipe resulting in failure of thedust bag to be closed when removed from the vacuum cleaner.

An object of the invention is to provide an end closure for a dust bagwhich is less expensive than known closures but which is neverthelessreliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elastic rivet for adust bag closure means which is assembled with the end closure in aquick and simple manner.

Further objects, features and advantages of this inven tion. will becomeapparent from the following description of the drawing illustratingembodiments of the invention. Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 isa perspective view of a disposable paper dust 3,421,298 Patented Jan.14, 1969 "ice :ollector having an end closure according to this inven-FIG. 2 is a perspective plan view of an end closure according to theinvention showing the discs thereof subsequent to a die cuttingoperation and prior to folding and gluing the two halves of the endclosure together as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the end closure of FIG.2 in folded position and having the elastic rivets inserted;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the operative position of the flapsand elastic rivets of a completed end closure; FIG. 5 is a partialcross-sectional view showing a dust bag according to the invention inuse in a vacuum cleaner.

Detailed description of the drawing In the figures, reference numeralrefers generally to a disposable dust collector used in a vacuum cleanerof the type shown in the above mentioned patents. The dust collector 10comprises a porous, paper filter bag 11 which is closed at one end by afold 12 and is attached at its other end to an end closure plate 13 ofrelatively stiff material such as cardboard. The open end of the paperbag 11 attached to the closure plate 13 in known manner. The end closureplate 13 has an opening 15 formed in the outer disc 16 which is alignedwith the opening in the bag (not shown). The inner disc 17 has a pair offlaps 18 which may be rectangular, as shown, circular, oval or otherconfiguration. Each flap 18 is hinged on the disc 17 by means of a scoreline 19. Each flap is also provided with a small aperture 20corresponding with a similar aperture 21 in the disc 16.

When the discs 16, 17 are juxtapositioned as shown in FIG. 3 an elasticrivet 25, having enlarged heads 26 at each end, are inserted through thealigned apertures 20, 21 in any suitable maner. As shown in FIG. 4 theshank of the elastic rivet is elongated when the flaps 18 are pushedapart by a suction tube T (FIG. 5) incorporated in the front cover 31 ofa vacuum cleaner. When the tube T is removed from the end closure 13 theelastic rivet snaps the flaps to their closed position thus insuringagainst spillage of the contents of the bag during removal from thecleaner and disposal.

The exterior shape of the discs 16, 17, the openings and flaps thereinare all formed in a single operation while the discs are opened prior tofolding. Once the discs are united in juxtaposition the elastic rivetsare inserted and then the bag 11 is attached. Each of the operations maybe performed by known means.

What is claimed is:

1. An end closure plate for a disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag; theimprovement comprising a pair of united juxtapositioned discs, one ofsaid discs having an opening therethrough adapted to receive a suctiontube of a vacuum cleaner, the other of said discs having a plurality offlaps integral therewith and hinged thereto, an aperture in each saidflap and a corresponding aperture in said one disc aligned with saidaperture in each flap, an elastic rivet extending through each saidaligned pair of apertures in a plane substantially parallel with theaxis of said opening, said elastic rivet being secured to the remotesurfaces of each said disc by enlarged head portion thereof.

2. An end closure plate according to claim 1 with the addition of afilter bag secured to one of said discs.

3. An end closure plate according to claim 1 wherein said elastic rivetis pretensioned.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSPatus 128146 Cawley 137-527 X Chatfield 261-114 Muentener 55367 Williams137527 X Restemeier -1 137527 X Berquist 55367 X Anderson 55377 XBorkoski 55367 Dippel 55368 X Lofgren 55367 X Cranmer 55367 X Bramhallet a1. 55363 4 Anderson et a1 55367 X Green 2441 Shufiiebotharn 55367Brown 229'62.5 Hoifmann 24 30.5 X

Great Britain.

FRANK W. LUTTER, Primary Examiner. DENNIS E. TALBERT, JR., AssistantExaminer.

US. Cl. X.R.

